While many think of it as a ‘fad’, staying fit and healthy has been a ‘thing’ since 2500 B.C. in China. Confucius said it was important to engage in physical activity to avoid ‘stoppages’ or ‘organ malfunction’.

In 1711, Francis Fuller rightly believed that the body needed ‘continual stimulus, since the vigour of the parts is acquir’d by use’. Exercise was essential as it ‘promotes the digestion, raises the spirits, refreshes the mind and strengthens and relieves the whole man’. A life of laziness was, he felt, dangerous.

He felt so strongly about it that he published a book on the ‘power of exercise’; Medicina Gymnastica: Or A Treatise Concerning The Power Of Exercise With Respect To The Animal Oeconomy; And The Great Necessity Of It In The Cure Of Several Distempers’. Not exactly a catchy title. Despite that it went into at least five editions.

While everyone agrees that both Confucius and Fuller were on to something, staying fit and healthy tends to be ‘faddish’. So what fitness fads has 2024 given us so far?

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­There are two divergent ways that healthcare has gone in 2024: Technological and Holistic. While the Science behind each matters more today than it did in the past, cost is often the dividing line between the two. We’re going to touch briefly on each.

Technological Health Trends In 2024

• Biomonitoring, Wearable Devices And At-Home Kits

While wearable devices aren’t new, 75 percent of people that bought them in the past have used them often this year than they have before. This may be a result of the years of COVID when staying fit and healthy had to happen at home without being able to visit a healthcare professional whenever you wanted, and because the devices can now measure so much more than they did before. It may also be because the devices are more convenient, not only to wear, but in terms of reporting to your healthcare professional.

• Wearable biometric rings, equipped with sensors and linked to mobile apps, provide insights about your sleep quality.
• Continuous glucose monitors, applied to the back of your arm, provide insights about your blood sugar levels, which may then be interpreted by your nutritionist for more precise and personalized health guidance.
• Stress Management monitors track spikes in cortisol.
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, cold and flu symptoms and cholesterol levels can now be tested at home thanks to kits which are now available.
• Fertility levels: Devices can also monitor physiological signals that identify the all-important peak fertility times.

This at-home testing may save you money by reducing the number of visits you pay to your healthcare professional, but will it turn you into a hypochondriac?

• A Shift Away From Natural To Clinical And Doctor Recommendations

Looking for advice on sleep, mindfulness, and overall health including vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and personal care products, people are currently seeking out healthcare professionals. As a result, products are becoming more clinical-proven. Wellness companies are now looking for certifications, research studies, and scientific or medical board recommendations to ground their claims. Which isn’t a bad thing.

Holistic Health Trends In 2024

• B12 And B Complex

Not only will Vitamin B keep your nervous system healthy, but it also prevents anaemia – which happens when your body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells. As a result, you feel tired, weak, and short of breath. B12 helps your body produce enough red blood cells. It also helps to reduce stress, increase your happiness and your memory’s function. Its importance can’t be overstated. High doses for a week, when necessary, have also been known to cure vaginal thrush.

• Probiotics, Fermented Foods, And Kombucha

This was a very popular trend in 2023 and seems to be still popular now. Fermented foods and kombucha are good for gut health, as is yoghurt. Too much fermented foods and kombucha can have different effects on one person’s gut than on another’s. Not too much of anything, but a good balance is always a good idea.

• Sober Curiosity

People have become far more conscious of the effects of alcohol on their bodies and exploring what happens when they stop drinking. Without alcohol, your health and wellbeing are dramatically improved. Your liver function increases and your risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers, is reduced. Your sleep, weight, skin, energy and mood also improve, giving you a new lease on life.

• Planking And Wall Pilates

Planking and wall Pilates is one of the most Googled fitness options of 2024. And it’s the one you should chat to a chiropractor about before you start.

The best way to lower your blood pressure, strengthen your core and stabilise your spine without equipment, planking and wall Pilates is the way to go. It’s important to either Google how to do both properly or have a musculoskeletal specialist, like a chiropractor, or fitness instructor, show you how before you start. If you feel any pain, stop, and have them reassess your form. In wall Pilates extra resistance and stability is provided by a wall, helping you to target your core, legs and glutes.

WELLNESS TIP

Did you know that…
Maintaining optimal vision and preventing eye-related issues includes diet, technology, and common-sense rules. The most important rule for people who spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen is to reduce eye strain as much as possible with supplements omega 3,6,9, Vit A, C, E, diverse fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and fish, and the 20-20-20 RULE: Every 20 minutes take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet (6m) away.

To make sure you are doing your exercise regime correctly, and that your spine is correctly aligned so that you won’t hurt yourself, call us today and book an appointment.

Yours in health,
Dr. Monica and Helen